'The best players they’re the ones most talked about in the media' - James Wade gets support after controversial statements

In the latest episode of World Matchplay Draait Door, the Sportnieuws.nl podcast, Damian Vlottes and Vincent van der Voort offered their thoughts on the World Matchplay so far—reflecting on the Dutch performances, Gian van Veen’s exit, and the looming semifinal clash between Gerwyn Price and Josh Rock. They also discussed a pointed remark from James Wade following his victory over Van Veen.

Gian van Veen's run came to an end after a hard-fought battle with Wade. The young Dutchman started strongly and held an early lead, but the experienced Englishman fought back and ultimately sealed the win. It meant the end of Dutch hopes in this year’s tournament. “He fought with dignity,” said Vlottes While Van der Voort added: “He missed a couple of crucial doubles. Especially that 86 finish to go 13-12 up—that was the turning point. That’s where the match slipped away. It’s a real shame. Wade missed his doubles early on, but as the game went on, he really took control. Still, I thought Van Veen did well to keep bouncing back under pressure.”

Despite the disappointment, both pundits were full of praise for Wade, who has shown a return to form in Blackpool. “He presented himself really well,” Vlottes noted. “A while back, you’d have said his time was up. He dropped out of the top 20 at one point, and now he’s back up to world number five. That deserves respect.”

Van Veen had shown impressive resilience throughout the tournament, especially in his earlier match against Luke Humphries—a game widely regarded as one of the standout performances of the event. His ability to regroup mentally and fight back was repeatedly on display. The podcast also touched on the growing influence of media in shaping the profiles of players. “These days, the best players aren’t necessarily the ones highest in the rankings—they’re the ones most talked about in the media,” said Vlottes. “James Wade actually mentioned that himself in his press conference, and I think he has a point. It’s not just about what you do on stage, it’s how you’re promoted.”

Van der Voort agreed but offered a counterbalance: “If you’re really good, you rise to the top anyway. But yeah, there’s definitely a lot more focus on who’s in the spotlight.”

Looking ahead to the semifinal between Gerwyn Price and Josh Rock, both men predicted a thrilling encounter. “I think Price is the favourite, just because of his experience,” said Van der Voort. “But Rock has the energy and aggression to cause problems. He won’t make it easy.”
Vlottes echoed that sentiment: “This could be Rock’s breakout. He’s getting closer to the elite level. But you do get the feeling that, in this form, Price is going to be incredibly tough to beat.”